mcgoyern



v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) T. MOG'OVERN.

OANDBLABRUM.

No. 429,471. PatentedJune 3, 1890.

mo-mum, wsnmamu o c (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. MOGOVERN,

GANDELABRUM.

Patented June 3, 1890.

INVENTOR:

littorney.

WITNESSES:

no: Nanms PETERS cm, mam-Tum, v/Asflmnmu, o. L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MOGOVERN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.-

CANDELABRUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,471, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed December 5, 1888. Serial No. 292,723. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, THOMAS MoGovERN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Candelabra, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of can delabra commonly employed at funerals and as a part of the paraphernalia of churches; and the object of my invention is to produce a branched and spreading candelabrum that will fold up somewhat in the manner of an umbrella, so that it may be reduced in compass for greater compactness in storing and in packing for transportation.

My invention will be fully described hereinafter, and its novel features carefully defined in the claims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a candelabrum embodying my improvements, representing the same expanded for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the candelabrum folded or collapsed for storing or transportation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section of the folded candelabrum on a scale double that of Figs. 1 and 2. The plane of the section is indicated by line 2 2 in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the expanded candelabrum, as represented in Fig. 1 and on the same scale as Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a part of the candelabrum, showing details of construction, and is on a scale double that of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The candelabrum comprises as its major elements a foot or base, a central or axial upright stem, and one or more tiers of branches.

I will first describe the parts above the spreading foot or base.

a is the central stem, which stands upright, and which I prefer to make tubular for the sake of lightness. It may be conveniently constructed of metal tubing. On this stem is secured at the proper point a hinging collar 1) for the upper tier of branches 0 c. There may be one or more tiers of branches and any reasonable number (two or more) of branches in each tier. In the drawings I have shown six radial branches equally spaced in each tier. The branches 0 in the upper tier are hinged to the collar b in any suitable manner, and they are supported in a horizontal position by braces (Z, hinged at their lower ends 7 in or to a runner e, which slides on the stem a in the manner of an umbrella or parasol runner.

In or to the runner e are hinged the inner ends of the lower tier of branches 0. These latter are radial, like those of the upper tier, and I usually prefer to make them somewhat longer than the branches of the upper tier; but this is not essential to my invention. The branches of the lower tier are provided with braces d, which support the said branches in a horizontal position, and said braces d are hinged at their lower ends in or to an operating-runner e, which slides on the stem (1. Normally the branches 0 and 0' stand folded in close to the stem at, as represented in Fig.

2, and they are expanded or raised by pushing up the operating-runner 6' until the branches 0 have assumed a horizontal position. When they have reached the proper horizontal position, they will be stopped each by a shoulder on on the runner e, to which they are hinged,

(see Figs. 2 and 4,) and then this runner will move up, causing the braces cl to elevate the upper branches 0 to a horizontal position. The runner 6 now passes or wipes over a gravity latch or retainer g, (see Fig. 4,) hinged or pivoted in the stem (2- and rests on the said latch, thus supporting the branches in the raised or extended position seen in Fig. 1. The gravity-latch g hinges on a pin passed through the stem a and its free end projects out through a slot in the wall of the stem. When the runner 6' passes the latch, the latter drops to the horizontal position seen in Fig. 4, and thus serves as a support for the runner.

The candelabrum may be folded or collapsed by pushing up the runner e a little way, and then pressing the latch 9 back into the hollow of the stem far enough for. said runner to pass over it in descending. When the candelabrum is collapsed or folded up, as represented in Fig. 2, the runner 6 maybe secured to the stem by a pin which passes through it and the stem a.

On the branches 0 and c are mounted suitable holders h h for the candles, which, as Well as the branches, may be of any suitable material and pattern, and the pattern or design may be plain or ornamental.

The braces 61 and (1 may be either ornamental or plain, and may be hinged to the branches and runners in any convenient manner. I have shown these braces forked at their upper ends, so as to embrace the respective branches, and also curved or bent in at their upper ends, so as to lie close to the stem at and be out of the way of the branches when the latter are folded in.

The foot or base of the candelabrnm will be constructed to fold flat, as represented in Fig. 2, when the candelabrum is to be stored or put away, and to unfold into the form of a cross, so as to provide four feet, when the candelabrum is to be set up, as in Fig. 1. I prefer to construct this foot or base as follows: z and j are arched pieces forming the members of the base. The inner or lower member a; is secured firmly to the stem 6:, which latter plays freely through the upper member j. This lower member '6 fits up into a concavity in the lower face of the member j when the base is folded as in Fig. 2, and it is held up in this locked position by a spring 7c on the stem a, which spring rests on the crown of the upper member j and takes under a fixed collar 011 the stem a.

When it is desired to set up the candelabrum, the base is unfolded or unlocked by drawing down the member '6 until it is free from the member j, and then turning it around until it stands at right angles to the member j. The spring 7c is then permitted to draw up the member i until its crown engages a gain Z (seen in Fig. 2) in the under side of the crown of member j. This forms a lock to hold the two members of the base in their positions at right angles to each other.

I do not limit myself to this form of base or foot, as other forms of folding bases may be employed. In some cases the stem amight be made telescopic, so as to be lengthened or shortened at will.

The candelabra may have any desired proportion and the branches any convenient length; and I do not wish to limit myself to the form of retainer for the operating-runn er, as other forms may be used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A candelabrum having hinged folding branches, each provided with a candle-holder at its free end, and having also a runner and supporting-braces for the arms, stops which limit the degree of elevation of the branches, and a retainer to support the branches when elevated, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, to form a candelabrum, of a base or foot, a central upright stem attached to said foot, an upper tier of radial branches hinged to a collar on the stem and provided with candle-holders, braces hinged to said upper branches at one end and to a runner on the stem at their other ends, a lower tier of radial branches hinged to a runner on the stem, braces hinged to said lower branches at one end and to a lower operative runner on the stem, the said runners, a retainer on the stem for the lower runner, and stops to limit the elevation of the lower tier of braces, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, to form a candelabrum, of a base or foot, a central upright stem attached to said foot, an upper tier of radial branches 0, hinged to a collar 011 said stem and provided with candle -holders, a lower tier of radial branches a, hinged to a runner e on said stem and also provided with candle-holders, braces d, hinged to the upper branches at one end and to the runner e at the other end, an operating-runner e on the stem below the runner e, braces d,hinged to the lower branches at one end and to the operating-runn er at the other end, a retainer on the stem for the runner e, and stops to limit the elevation of the lower branches, as set forth.

4. The combination,with the base and stem of the candelabrum, and thebranches, braces, and operating-runner thereof, of the gravitylatch mounted in the stem and serving as a retainer for the runner, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS MCGOVERN. IVitnesses:

HENRY CONNETT, J. D. CAPLINGER. 

